The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Lutz Guv’na hopefuls face off in amusing debate

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The afternoon was hot and sizzling — and so was the 2018 Lutz Guv’na Debate at the Old Lutz School.

So much so that the May 19 event ended in a tie, a first in the debate’s long history.

Kandy Sinquefield of American BellyDance Studio and returning candidate Jessica Sherman of Pinch A Penny each earned the same number of “votes” (most guests in the audience)— earning a split of a $100 campaign donation from Flip Flop Embroidery Shoppe.

Besides the Guv’na debate, candidates displayed their skills in other competitions, like curling— concocting the best hairstyle on a wig using a curling iron. Returning candidate Jessica Sherman, left, shows off her masterpiece. (Kevin Weiss)

A third candidate, Domenic DiFante of Panini’s Bar & Grill, couldn’t make the debate. He was instead represented by one of his employees, Alex Robertson, who diplomatically threw his full support behind his absent boss.

Said Robertson, “He’s a great man, and I think he will give the community a great service by being your next Guv’na.”

The annual affair isn’t your typical “political” debate.

The candidates were required to ring a bell before answering a series of satirical questions from a few dozen Lutz residents and family members in the crowd.

Other games and fun activities were mixed in throughout the fun-filled afternoon, which was emceed by Paul Vahue of First Baptist Church in Lutz.

Among the most intense “hot button” debate questions: “Are you a liberal or conservative when it comes to pizza toppings, and should there be punishment for ordering pineapple on pizza?”

Sherman advocated for “pizza freedom.”

Sinquefield supported the right to choose any pizza topping, but added, “just don’t ask me to clean up for you when you get sick from eating it.”

Robertson, on behalf of DiFante, took a more hardline approach to the pizza topping issue.

“There’s just a few things in life that just don’t go together,” he said, “and pineapple on pizza is one of them.”

Another “controversial” topic dear to Lutz residents was also broached: “Should Lutz secede from the state of Florida?”

In true political fashion, Robertson avoided the topic entirely, redirecting the conversation to Difante’s “tax plan” and campaign promise of “chicken wings, overstuffed sandwiches and cold beer at every corner of the city.”

To quell other “voters” concerns, Sherman and Sinquefield both said the unincorporated town should remain a part of the Sunshine State.

Said Sherman, “I think Lutz is just fine the way it is. If I win Guv’na, I’m not going to do anything. Everything’s just fine.”

Added Sinquefield: “I don’t think Lutz should secede from the union. If people don’t like what we do in Lutz, then they need to move to Carrollwood…”

Another Lutz-centric debate question that drew wonderment from many — “Which object should be dropped in Lutz on New Year’s Eve?”

Sinquefield mentioned a rhinestone-covered replica of the Lutz Train Depot.

Sherman liked the idea of dropping a giant alligator.

Robertson— trying to appeal to the crowd’s appetites — proposed unloading a 75-foot tall, 1,500-pound “overstuffed” sandwich — a Panini’s staple. “Everybody bring a fork,” he quipped.

In between the many colorful debate questions were a series of “Olympic-type” activities.

Except, they were just slightly different from the real thing.

The “curling” competition required the trio to use a curling iron on a synthetic wig — concocting the best hairstyle possible. Sinquefield reigned supreme in that.

Meantime, the makeshift synchronized swimming event required candidates to shake and wave swim noodles attached to tennis shoes, to mimic the symbiotic motion of legs and feet behind the veil of a blue tarp that served as water.

The routines drew more cackles than points for grace, but each earned a participation prize.

Guv’na candidates also used the debate platform to show off their special talents.

Sherman displayed the same “epic dance moves” from last year, comically resembling those popularized by “Seinfeld” TV series character Elaine Benes, portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Sinquefield, unsurprisingly, shared a belly dance routine.

Robertson conceded the talent show entirely, bowing to Sinquefield’s performance. “There’s nothing I can do that can follow that,” he said modestly.

At the end of the debate, each candidate revealed their official campaign slogan.

Sherman stayed true to last year’s “Keep Lutz Local” slogan.

She explained: “Lutz is a very special community. Ninety percent of our business owners are local, Lutz owned and operated businesses, and it’s super important we keep that family vibe that we don’t have in a lot of places, like Carrollwood.”

Sinquefield’s slogan was more brash: “I don’t want your vote—I want your money!” she said.

Difante’s slogan was “Let’s get overstuffed!”

The meaning was explained in a statement read by Robertson: “I’ve mastered the overstuffed sandwich. Now I want to overstuff your wallets, bank accounts and bellies!”

The whimsical debate was all done in an effort for candidates to drum up as much support as they could, hoping to raise as much money as possible for their “campaigns,” which ultimately go to benefitting several nonprofits and local organizations in Lutz.

The annual Guv’na Race fundraiser continues through the Fourth of July weekend, where the winner is announced, and earns the coveted “sash” and honorary title from the prior year’s winner.

The race started in 1991 and is sponsored by the Lutz Civic Association.

It typically raises several thousand dollars for about 20 beneficiaries.

Dignitaries at the event included a handful of former Guv’na winners and candidates, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, and representatives from the Old Lutz School and the Lutz Civic Association, among others.

Lutz Guv’na candidate upcoming fundraisers

Candidate Domenic DiFante

  • Kill the Keg: May 31 from 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., at Panini’s Bar and Grill, 3973 Van Dyke Road in Lutz. There will be music and karaoke, corn hole, jumbo Jenga, jumbo Connect Four, beer pong and more. Wristbands for “Kill the Keg” are $15. For information, call (813) 962-3479.

Candidate Jessica Sherman

Candidate Kandy Sinquefield

  • BellyDance 4 A Cause: June 10 at 2 p.m., at the Sydney Center, 102 Whitaker Road, Lutz. A belly dance show to benefit the Lutz Guv’na race that will feature many styles of belly dance, colorful costumes and uplifting music. Tickets are $15 and available at Kandy4LutzGovna.com or at the door, if available. For information, visit Kandy4LutzGovna.com.
  • Barbecue and Belly Dancing: June 17 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at UNION72 Barbecue, 2000 Piazza Ave., Suite 150, in Wesley Chapel. Bring the whole family out to eat at UNION72 and help support Kandy. A portion of the bill will be donated to the Guv’na’s race by the restaurant. For information, visit Kandy4LutzGovna.com.
  • Miss Lutz Pageant: June 23 at 7 p.m., at the Sydney Center, 102 Whitaker Road, Lutz. Contestants are still needed to show off their talent and an evening gown. Participants must be older than age 18, live in Lutz and be available for the Lutz 4th of July Parade. Tickets are $15. For information, visit Kandy4LutzGovna.com.

Published May 30, 2018

Democratic clubs set meetings

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Trinity Democratic Club
The Trinity Democratic Club will meet May 23 at 6:30 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. Doors open at 5 p.m., for dinner and happy hour, self-pay, with food and beverages available for purchase throughout the meeting. 

The club will host Ryan Torrens, candidate for Attorney General, and Roy David Walker, candidate for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture.

For questions, call (415) 609-3633, or email .

Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club
The Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club will meet June 6 at 6:30 p.m., at Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 108, in Lutz.

The special guest will be Robert Tager, candidate for U.S. Congress in Florida-District 12.

There also will be a discussion on plans to increase voter turnout to positively impact upcoming elections in 2018.

For information, visit MakingPascoBlue.com.

Democratic Hispanic Caucus
The Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Pasco will meet June 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Los Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, 5335 Village Market in Wesley Chapel.

This is the group’s second meeting, and is looking for new members.

For information and questions, email .

Lutz girl making TV show debut in ‘Kid Stew’ airing on WEDU

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Twelve-year-old Madison Maxwell has done hundreds of commercials, beginning when she was just 4.

But, the sixth-grader at Academy at the Lakes in Land O’ Lakes has never been involved in a television show.

Until now.

She’s one of nine cast members in a new series called “Kid Stew.”

Madison Maxwell, a sixth-grader at Academy at the Lakes, is a cast member of a new show called ‘Kid Stew,’ which will be airing in June on WEDU. (B.C. Manion)

The show was created by James Patterson, an internationally known author of books written for young readers.

Four episodes of “Kid Stew” have been filmed and four more episodes are slated for production this summer.

Each episode, which lasts 30 minutes, features humor, skits and a fast-paced delivery to provide an engaging approach to learning.

It’s been described as sort of a combination between a kid-friendly “Saturday Night Live” and the old PBS television show “Zoom,” said Sue Maxwell, who is Madison’s mom.

The cast members wear funny wigs, crazy facial hair and dress up like French waiters, sleazy record promoters, stuffy British TV hosts and famous historical characters, according to a news release.

The show will air locally, in a marathon scheduled for June 24 beginning at 9 a.m., on WEDU. It is being carried by more than 200 stations across the country.

Madison is involved in a recurring sketch, in which she and Blake McCall, another cast member, use a phone booth to travel back in time.

During those sketches, they visited Leonardo da Vinci, Cleopatra, Thomas Edison and Shakespeare, Madison said.

“That was very fun, except for the mosquitoes. I had 37 mosquito bites,” she said, noting the filming was done outdoors near a monastery, to give the time travel a historic feel.

Madison said it’s been fun to be in the show, and she was pleased to be selected for the cast. She found out about the auditions from her agent in Miami.

She said the show doesn’t require her to adopt an entirely new persona.

Madison Maxwell holds a ‘Kid Stew’ sign. The 12-year-old from Lutz has been in hundreds of commercials. This is her first television show.

“It’s your name, and you get to act like yourself and you are your own character,” she said. “You can just be free.”

The episodes are shot in Miami, Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale area, with seven of the nine cast members coming from South Florida and the other two, including Madison, from the Tampa Bay area.

A news release describes the show this way: “‘Kid Stew’ celebrates imagination, and encourages children’s interest in reading, music, art and creative expression. Featuring comedic sketches, music videos, fun facts, virtual visits around the globe, and guest appearances from creative adults and kids alike, the series offers four, half-hour episodes packed with fun in a ‘for kids, by kids’ format that appeals to elementary school age viewers.”

The creator, Patterson, is known for his tween-targeted franchises, which include “Jacky Ha-Ha,” about a 12-year-old girl who loves to make people laugh.

‘Kid Stew’ is co-produced by South Florida PBS and Patterson, and presented nationally by South Florida PBS via American Public Television.

Madison is excited about filming the rest of Season 1 and hopes there will be a Season 2.

She’s not sure what she wants to do in the future. At one point, she wanted to be a dolphin trainer. More recently, she’s been thinking about being an orthodontist, or perhaps a neurosurgeon.

At this point, it’s too soon to tell.

Madison lives in Lutz with her mom, Sue; her dad, Mike; and, her grandfather, Ki Kim.

Published May 30, 2018

Business park spurs talks on widening Old Pasco Road

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There is no disagreement that Old Pasco Road should be widened to four lanes.

But, the timing and funding for such a project got mixed reactions from Pasco County commissioners who approved a new business park on the mostly two-lane roadway.

Approximately 90 acres on Old Pasco will be the site for the county-initiated project, known as Overpass Business Park.

Intersection improvements will be made at State Road 52 and Old Pasco Road. County commissioners in the future want to see Old Pasco widened to four lanes.
(File)

Commissioners did include a condition to require developers to widen the road from the park’s entrance, north to Overpass Road.

The park is less than a half mile southeast of the intersection of Overpass and Old Pasco.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore pushed to widen the entire length – nearly two miles – of Old Pasco. Or, at least, he said it should be widened as far as Oakley Boulevard.

“I’m by no means against the project,” Moore said.

But, Old Pasco “needs to widened all the way through before we move forward with any actual project.”

The vote to approve was 3 to 1, with Moore the dissenting voter.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr., was absent from the May 22 meeting in New Port Richey.

Other county commissioners worried that a requirement to widen the entire road would be too limiting.

“I just don’t see why we would force ourselves onto a condition when we don’t know what (project) will come before us,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “We’re tying our hands.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed.

He said the county would lose flexibility in attracting projects.

“We want to be able to move quickly when opportunities come forward,” he said.

The park is part of a county-driven effort to diversify the types of businesses and industries that are attracted to Pasco.

The land will be made site-ready, and marketed to prospective developers who will pitch their proposals to the county.

Starkey had a suggestion on funding for the road widening.

She cited an article in the magazine, Florida Trend, about a federal grant to Alachua County for a road project, aimed at boosting economic growth.

County officials said they already were working on an application to submit for a state grant.

Two other road projects are on tap to enhance Old Pasco at its intersection with State Road 52, and with Quail Hollow Boulevard.

County commissioners recently approved about $2.2 million for pavement reconstruction starting about 1,450 feet south of State Road 52, a sidewalk, stormwater, pond construction, signage and turn lanes.

The Florida Department of Transportation is in the midst of a major road widening project at State Road 52 and the Interstate 75 interchange.

In 2019, the county plans to begin intersection improvements for Old Pasco and Quail Hollow Boulevard.

Published May 30, 2018

Caddy, an adventurous cat, is a teacher in disguise

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Anne Higgins, an author who lives in Land O’ Lakes, spent the bulk of her career helping children to develop their speech and language skills.

Sometimes, the speech pathologist worked directly with children.

Other times, she worked indirectly. In the Plano Independent School District, in Texas, she supervised 35 speech pathologists. During that time, she published an articulation kit for severe speech disorders that was in publication for 20 years.

Anne Higgins, a resident of Land O’ Lakes, is the author of ‘Princess Caddy Finds a Home,’ a book that uses the adventure of a cat to help children develop their vocabulary and comprehension skills.
(B.C. Manion)

Now, she wants to broaden her influence even more through a children’s book she wrote called “Princess Caddy Finds a Home.”

The idea is to use the adventures of a cat to entertain young readers, and help them to develop their vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Higgins is confident that the hardcover book, with its colorful illustrations, will appeal to a broad audience of children.

“This is a true story about a little kitty that basically came to my yard and didn’t leave,” Higgins said. “I was telling my little 3- and 4-year-olds about the kitty and found out they were more excited about what Caddy would do every day, than what Miss Anne would do.

“They could care less what I did in the morning, but they wanted to know everything that Caddy did in the morning.

“The response was amazing.

“So, I integrated her in my therapy and found it to be probably one of the best methods I’ve ever come up with,” she said.

She used the stories about Caddy and her interaction with other animals to help teach basic concepts to the children, and to help them develop their vocabulary.

The children’s book does the same thing.

She developed an index for parents or grandparents to tell them about the basic concepts that are important for 3- to 5-year-olds.

She also lists the vocabulary words presented in the book, which children will learn through repeated exposure. The book contains more than 100 vocabulary words, ranging from simple to complex.

She also added a section which lists questions, to help children develop the comprehension skills they need.

This cover shows an illustration of the real-life Caddy. (Dorrance Publishing/Wendy Bouch)

“After you read this to the child, you can ask them some questions, and see if they were listening and understanding,” she said.

Higgins received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, in Austin, and her master’s from the University of Texas Dallas branch.

Laster, she moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where she worked with 3- and 4-year-old children with hearing impairments. At the same time, Higgins worked on speech and language skills with students with autism and who were severely developmentally delayed.

Working on the book was an education for Higgins.

“It was grueling. Every chapter had to be reviewed. Going back and forth. I was trying to integrate as much vocabulary as possible. I had lists and lists and lists of vocabulary words that I was trying to put into the story. It was difficult. You have to have some determination to complete it,” said Higgins, who self-published her book through Dorrance, a publisher based in Pennsylvania.

It took about a year to complete the book, after years of collecting material to use in it, she said.

Higgins envisions the possibility of creating a series of books, featuring Princess Caddy in new adventures, such as going on a vacation, or getting a little brother or sister in the family.

The book is available through various sources, include Bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

Published May 30, 2018

Festival raises money for animal care

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Land O’ Lakes residents Devin Reyes, 10, left, and Nick Mascola, 15, pampered Bagel, a 1-year-old male Pit Bull. Bagel was up for adoption at the ‘Woofstock’ festival. (Randy Underhill)

Dogs and their human friends celebrated the fourth annual “Woofstock” festival at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park on May 19.

It was the first time for the park to host the event, which raises funds to aid sick dogs and cats at Pasco County Animal Services.

Animal services brought dogs that were available for adoption.

Baily plants a kiss on one of his owners, Nancy Berry, left, as he snuggles in the arms of his other owner, Don Riges, under a tent for the English Springer Rescue group.

Vendors set up displays of doggy wares, including designer collars, boarding services, toys, pet food, health care, and offers to microchip Fido or Spot.

Three local bands entertained, including Crossing the Tangent and Chaotic. There were also performers from the Milano Twirling Academy and belly dancers from Troup Sahirnee.

Brody, a 10-year-old border collie, dunked a basketball with an assist from canine trainer Lisa Morrissey. It was part of a demonstration of dog tricks. Brody has about 260 tricks in his repertoire.

One unexpected pet at the festival was a skunk brought by Florida Skunk Rescue. Florida is one of 17 states that allows skunks to be bred domestically. Typically, the animals are “de-fumed” at age one month.

By Randy Underhill

Published May 30, 2018

Canine trainer Lisa Morrisey assisted Brody, a 10-year-old Border Collie, in dunking a basketball at the fourth annual ‘Woofstock’ festival.

 

Sylar, a 7-year-old Cockapoo, posed with Tampa resident Derriann Hope, an employee of All Creatures Hospital. Sylar suffers from a disk disease that affects the dog’s hind legs.

 

New Port Richey resident Linda Reardon picked out a pink cup holder to buy at the Wet ‘N Firehose tent at the ‘Woofstock’ festival at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.
Emma, an 8-year-old mixed breed, learns how to sit on command, and in return gets rewarded with a treat from Erica Manack, a volunteer with Pasco County Animal Services.

Sharing the history of the Bundt cake, and a recipe, too

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If you’ve ever wondered how Bundt cakes came about, this column will satisfy that curiosity.

A Bundt cake is baked in a pan that gives the cake a distinctive ring shape.

Bundt cakes have been around for a long time. The baking pans come in a multitude of shapes and sizes.

The shape was inspired by a traditional European yeasted cake known as a Gugelhupf (also called bund cake) that was often prepared to serve at a gathering of people.

Many recipes have been developed over time for cakes made in Bundt pans.

You could say that the Bundt cake’s history in North America began back in 1950, when David Dalquist created the pan, added the “t” to trademark the name, and started producing the unique cast aluminum pans in Minnesota.

The popularity of the pans took off in 1966 when there was a cook-off and an ooey-goey chocolate cake made by Ella Helfrich from Texas won second place in the contest, inspiring other cooks across the country to give the pan a try.

Bundt cakes come in a variety of shapes and flavors. One thing they tend to have in common though is the warm welcome they receive at family gatherings. (Betsy Crisp)

Sales sored throughout the ’60s and ’70s, and the pans evolved — taking on different shapes and sizes. There’s the traditional pan, as well as the rose, jubilee, pine forest, vintage star, blossom, mini-Bundt and so on. They come in 1-cup, 6-cup, 10-cup and 12-cup sizes.

With each new design, the Bundt cakes seem to surge again in popularity.

Despite its ebbs and flows, the Bundt cake has staying power.

It truly is one of the great American cooking traditions.

There are six or more different pan designs to delight today’s cooks, and it’s estimated that more than 60 million of the pans can be found in kitchens across the United States.

I have collected several of these pan designs over the years and still manage to impress people when I take them to meetings and family gatherings.

Of course, I have my all-time favorite pound cake recipe that has been used to bribe/reward many family, friends, and co-workers into doing favors for me, but I still love to experiment, as new recipes keep coming out in magazines and cookbooks.

The recipe included today is an adaptation of the original 1966 contest winner – Enjoy!

(Note: One of the original ingredients — a frosting mix — was discontinued in the ’70s, so it had to be replaced with cocoa powder and confectioner’s sugar.

Betsy Crisp, MS, LD/N is a professor emeritus for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension – Family & Consumer Sciences

Recipe

1966 Bake-Off 2nd-Place Winner:  Tunnel of Fudge Bundt Cake (Adapted from the original recipe)

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups unsalted butter (or margarine), softened
  • 6 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 2 cups walnuts, chopped

Glaze

  • 3/4 cup 10x powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 4 teaspoons to 6 teaspoons milk

Instructions

Cake

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube Bundt cake pan (or 10-inch standard tube pan).
  • In large bowl, combine sugar and butter; beat until light and fluffy.
  • Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Gradually add 2 cups 10x powdered sugar; blend well.
  • By hand, stir in flour and remaining cake ingredients until well-blended.
  • Spoon batter into greased and floured pan; spread evenly.
  • Bake at 350°F. for 45 to 50 minutes, or until top is set and edges are beginning to pull away from sides of pan. (Be very careful not to over-bake)
  • Cool upright in pan on wire rack 1 1/2 hours.
  • Invert onto serving plate; cool at least 2 hours.

Glaze

  • In small bowl, combine all glaze ingredients, adding enough milk for desired drizzling consistency.
  • Spoon over top of cake, allowing some to run down sides.
  • Store tightly covered.

Published May 30, 2018

Zephyrhills, Lutz rents on the rise

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Rents are on the rise in municipalities and counties in Tampa Bay, with Wesley Chapel the fourth most expensive rental area for one-bedrooms, according to a report from Zumper.

In April, the median rent for a one-bedroom was $1,140. That’s more than a 15 percent increase in a year.

Lutz was in the eighth slot for one-bedrooms, at $1,060. But, that was a slight dip of about 1 percent from a year ago.

Zumper is an online source for apartment and home rentals.

In April, Zumper looked at 20 cities in the Tampa Metro area and compiled a list of the most and least expensive cities, and cities with the fastest growing rents.

In Florida, the median rent in April was $1,185.

Wesley Chapel is more in the middle of the pack on two-bedroom rentals, at $1,290 – a modest 1.6 percent increase from last year.

Lutz almost matches Wesley Chapel on two-bedrooms, at $1,260. But, that is nearly an 8 percent increase from last year.

New Port Richey and Zephyrhills had the cheapest one- and two-bedroom rentals in April. Renters in New Port Richey paid $730 for a one-bedroom, and $860 for a two-bedroom. That was a nearly 16 percent increase on one-bedrooms, but more than a 2 percent decline in two-bedroom rentals from last year.

In Zephyrhills, a one-bedroom was $680, and a two-bedroom, $850. The one-year increase for one-bedrooms was 11.5 percent, and nearly 15 percent for two-bedrooms.

By comparison, a one bedroom in Tampa in April was $1,130, an increase of more than 14 percent year-to-year. A two-bedroom was $1,370, also about 14 percent higher than last year.

Dunedin, in Pinellas County, had the priciest one-bedroom for April, at $1,130. That was more than a 6 percent decrease from last year, but a nearly 5 percent increase month-to-month.

Two-bedrooms in Dunedin were $1,490, an 11 percent increase from last year.

The priciest two-bedroom rentals in April were in Clearwater, at $1,640; and in St. Petersburg, at $1,630.

For information, visit Zumper.com.

Published May 30, 2018

Donate new shoes and skate onto the Center Ice rink

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San Antonio resident Janet Chubinsky is skating her nonprofit Shoes4Schools onto the ice rink at Florida Hospital Center Ice.

The skating rink will be hosting a “SkateForShoes” fundraiser for the charity on June 1. The charity collects donations of new shoes every year to give to Pasco County schoolchildren who need them.

Thousands of new shoes are donated annually to help Pasco County schools who need them. The nonprofit, Shoes4Schools, began in 2013, and has given out about 7,000 shoes. (Courtesy of Shoes4Schools)

From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., individual admission to the rink will be the standard $10 fee, with discounts for seniors, veterans and active military. Anyone who donates a new pair of shoes, however, won’t have to pay the $5 charge for renting skates. Shoe sizes for children through adults are needed.

Volunteers with Shoes4Schools will have display tables. Cash donations also will be accepted. Prize drawings are planned.

On the same day, Pasco County school administrators, including principals and vice principals, also will be at the skating facility to kickoff a summer conference.

“This is the first event we’ve done as a (single) event for a charity,” said Morgan Novotny, of Florida Hospital Center on Ice.

Shoes4Schools has grown enormously over the years.

In total, the charity has distributed more than 7,000 pairs of shoes.

Chubinsky began the effort after she and her husband moved from Tennessee to Pasco County.

A quiet retirement wasn’t her style.

Her daughter suggested that she revive a shoe donation program she had initially started in Tennessee.

After a visit to Raymond B. Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills, Chubinsky was off and running, or at least, tooling around in a 2000 model SUV.

She slapped a magnetic logo on the vehicle’s doors – a pair of sneakers. And, she delivered shoes, lots of them.

During Chubinsky’s first year, the charity gave away 36 pairs of shoes. By the second year, Shoes4Schools put 900 pairs of shoes on the feet of Pasco schoolchildren.

Chubinsky has been on the move ever since, and the shoes keep piling up.

“She’s a firecracker,” said Novotny. “She’s amazing.”

For information, visit Shoes-4-Schools.org.

Shoes4Schools fundraiser: “SkateForShoes”
Where: Florida Hospital Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel
What: Fundraiser to collect donations of new shoes for Pasco County schoolchildren. Sizes children through adults needed.
Cost: $10 rink admission; $8 for seniors, veterans and active military, with valid ID; free skate rental for anyone who donates a new pair of shoes
Info: Call Florida Hospital Center Ice at (813) 807-7372, or visit FloridaHospitalCenterIce.com or Shoes-4-Schools.org.

Published May 23, 2018

Lutz teen named state winner for Doodle 4 Google contest

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An inspiration from nature — and a passion for learning — helped Lutz teenager Mark Thivierge craft an award-winning drawing.

Thivierge, 16, was recently named the Florida State Winner of the 2018 Doodle 4 Google competition — one of 53 state and territory winners whose work is displayed in an online gallery on the Doodle 4 Google website.

Lutz teenager Mark Thivierge was recently named the Florida State Winner of the 2018 Doodle 4 Google competition. He is one of 53 state and territory winners whose work is displayed in an online gallery on the Doodle 4 Google website. (Courtesy of Mark Thivierge)

The Doodle 4 Google competition, in its 10th year, is a contest open to kindergarten through 12th grade students across the U.S., to redesign Google’s logo. This year’s theme is “What Inspires Me?”

Thivierge’s doodle, “Inspiration,” features excerpts of his own poetry and music compositions, as well as example of scientific and mathematical innovations, surrounding a map featuring unique geographic landscapes from each of the 50 states.

Thivierge, who is home-schooled, incorporated several state landscapes of places visited into the piece, such as the Florida beach lines, the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

The 10th-grader said: “I get inspired by seeing the nature. It motivates my love to learn and to explore, and to create. Some of the subjects that I’m really interested in were geography, science, mathematics, music and writing, which I all tried to incorporate into the doodle.”

In composing the doodle, Thivierge first outlined a U.S. map. He then filled in each scene from there.

The entire piece was designed using colored pencils and took about 1 ½ months to complete.

Besides notable national landmarks, some other surroundings of the piece were arbitrary. For instance, he penciled dairy farms and green fields across some Midwest states.

He also researched images of other regions and learned how to correctly draw mountains and stalactites.

Thivierge’s doodle, ‘Inspiration,’ features excerpts of his own poetry and music compositions, as well as scientific and mathematical innovations, surrounding a map featuring unique geographic landscapes from each of the 50 states. The piece was designed entirely using colored pencils. The project took about 1 ½ months to complete.

“The landmarks are one thing, but even with the simple things like little plants or fields are nice, as well,” Thivierge said of the types of nature that inspires him.

Though the project “took a long time,” Thivierge said he enjoyed the entire process and its challenges along the way.

Said Thivierge, “The most difficult one was (Montana) because I had to draw the snow in negative (drawing something by drawing around it). I’m proud of that one. I liked (drawing) Texas, as well, and Florida.”

Every year, children and teens from around the country submit illustrations to the Doodle 4 Google contest with the hopes of having their drawing end up on the homepage of the popular search engine.

An estimated 200,000 submissions were received nationwide by the March 2 deadline.

Doodles were judged on artistic merit, creativity and theme communication.

They were grouped and judged across five grade groups — kindergarten through third grade; fourth and fifth grade; sixth and seventh grade; eighth and ninth grade; and 10th through 12th grade.

Submitted pieces were voted on by a panel of judges and Google employees.

Google representatives informed Thivierge’s family in April that he was chosen as Florida’s winner.

He was then recognized with a surprise ceremony on May 3 at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, in Land O’ Lakes, where he is a member of the parish’s Life Teen and homeschool programs, and also serves on the Tech Team ministry and a lector.

A Google representative was at the ceremony, which attracted more than 100 people from the parish.

The Google representative presented Thivierge with a Chromebook, a tote bag and T-shirt imprinted with his doodle.

“It’s an honor,” Thivierge said of having the top doodle in the state. “It was out of sight a little bit. I hadn’t been thinking about it every day, but it came as a surprise.”

It’s the third year Thivierge entered the Doodle 4 Google contest, but fell short of a state award in his previous attempts.

“He didn’t give up. He persevered,” said his mother, Elena Thivierge.

“Hopefully it inspires others that if you want something to pursue it,” she said.

As the top doodle in Florida, Thivierge has advanced to the national finalists round of the Doodle 4 Google contest, where only five state and territory winners will be selected for the final round. Voting for that portion closed on May 18.

From there, a national winner will be decided and will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology grant to a local nonprofit organization, a trip to Google headquarters in California, and the opportunity to have the doodle featured on the Google homepage for one day.

The four national finalists who do not become the national winner will receive a $5,000 college scholarship and a trip to Google headquarters, among other prizes.

Published May 23, 2018